focal length: 29 mm
shutter speed: 1/250
aperture: f/2.8
ISO: 320
flash: none

You know I like to get up close and personal. I like this shot because it was another blind shot and although the composition was off, hence the unusual crop, I’m glad I was able to capture this expression. I actually like that the sky was completely blown off. I was using spot metering so my camera adjusted my shutter speed to expose her face correctly which subsequently overexposed the sky. That’s not so bad is it? Some very respected photographers do it all the time on purpose. Sometimes we get too concerned about keeping everything in the image properly exposed and watching our histogram till we go blue in the face. I don’t mind walking off the beaten path once in a while and shooting something new.

I particularly like this shot because this is how close I get when I cuddle with my baby and I’m glad I can cherish this view forever… even after, when she won’t let me get in that close anymore!

Laura is a Vancouver wedding and portrait photographer. Visit laurahana.com.

*click to enlarge

focal length: 29 mm
shutter speed: 1/250
aperture: f/2.8
ISO: 320
flash: none

This is a perfect example of why we should have a camera at the ready for those sweet moments that we witness.  Even having a point and shoot would be better than nothing for times like this.  I always carry around my little Canon SD300 in my bag.  It’s small enough to keep in my pocket or the diaper bag.  Although I was lucky enough to have had my SLR at hand, I would’ve been happy with a picture taken with a cell phone rather than having no picture to look back at.  So today’s rule is, always carry a camera!  Don’t leave home without it.  Oh, and shoot lots and lots of pictures!

I love it that Sophie has friends her age to play with.  If you’re pregnant with your first child, go to your prenatal class reunion and keep in touch with your group.  It’s so wonderful having friends who are going through the same things you are at the same time.  And what’s cuter than seeing two babies sweet on each other?

Laura is a Vancouver wedding and portrait photographer. Visit laurahana.com.

*click to enlarge

focal length: 29 mm
shutter speed: 1/320
aperture: f/2.8
ISO: 320
flash: none

I like to blind shoot from time to time so I don’t have to lie on the ground to get a shot at an interesting angle. Call me lazy, but I think it’s fun to shoot blindly and see what I can get. I used spot metering in aperture priority mode so that the camera would meter for her face rather than for the bright sky behind her. Otherwise, her face would have come out much darker. I don’t mind blowing out the sky anyway. For the processing, I used my Retro Desaturated Preset in Lightroom and just adjusted the tint to be more pink than green. Then I opened it up in Photoshop and decided to run a little Unsharp Mark (USM) found under Filter > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask to add a little more sparkle to her eyes.

You can see the before and after picture below:

I used these values for a subtle change:

Important to note is that I resized my image to a width of 880 pixels before applying the USM. If I had used those same USM values before I had resized, I wouldn’t have seen any effect.

So, I added a little more sparkle in her eyes with a simple trick using USM. What values do you use for USM on your photos?

I love this view of Sophie because her big chubby cheeks and hands are accentuated. We had a great time at our picnic!

Laura is a Vancouver wedding and portrait photographer. Visit laurahana.com.

focal length: 42 mm
shutter speed: 1/100
aperture: f/2.8
ISO: 800
flash: none

I shot an event for church last weekend where there were displays of Canadian memorabilia. I took shots of each display in its entirety just to document them. None of those images were particularly interesting to look at though. They provided pretty much the same perspective any person would have seen walking up to them. The detail shots where I had to crouch down to be level with the table were far more eye-catching and intriguing.

To show you what I mean, here’s a table shot for comparison:

focal length: 36 mm
shutter speed: 1/160
aperture: f/2.8
ISO: 800
flash: none

Not all that interesting is it?

It’s always nice to get the ‘big picture’ and each may serve a different purpose but getting in close and focusing on details can perhaps render extraordinary views of something ordinary.

It’s Canada Day today. 141 years young. We’re going to the park for a picnic!

Laura is a Vancouver wedding and portrait photographer. Visit laurahana.com.

It’s official and the rumours proved true. Nikon just released a few new products and among them, the D700! Are you getting excited?

Well, I am because this is the camera I had been waiting for.  A compact pro full frame (FX) camera from Nikon. I got impatient waiting for the second generation Canon 5D and got the Nikon D300 even though I really wanted a full frame camera. Nikon’s only full frame camera at the time, the D3 at roughly $5000, was beyond my budget. Finally, we have a more affordable option with many of the same features as the D3 and a few better ones too.

You can read about all the specs on the PDF brochure and a detailed preview at DP Review, but here’s my little run-down on the D700:

• same full frame sensor as the D3. 12.1 megapixel FX CMOS sensor with EXPEED
• extremely low noise even at ISO 6400!
• 5 frames per second continuous shooting (8 fps with battery grip)
• 51-point AF with 3D Focus Tracking (love this on my D300)
• sensor cleaning system (absent on the D3)
• bright and beautiful 3-inch TFT monitor, which I love
• two live view modes (D300 has it but I never use it)
• built in flash to use as commander for off camera lighting (absent on D3)

To me, it’s pretty much a D300 with a full frame sensor. Perfect. Love it! When can I get it?

It’s slated to be available sometime in late July with an estimated sticker price of $2999.95 USD for the body only.

You may be wondering why I want a full frame camera. Well, there are several reasons:

• greater detail and richer colours
• extremely low noise
• greater field of view compared to crop sensors(DX)
• to make better use of my FX lenses, which I invested in with a full frame in mind

The main reason would have to be image quality for me. When I see photos taken with a camera that has a full frame sensor (Nikon D3, Canon 5D and 1Ds) I notice the increased depth and detail that just make the photos richer and outstanding. That’s enough for me to want a full frame camera.

Now, this camera is not for everyone. Depending on what you normally shoot, you may like the extra reach of a crop sensor body. Sports shooters or those who catch a lot of action need a camera with more bursts per second. You may not want a full frame camera because you don’t see any difference from a crop sensor camera, which is totally fine. I couldn’t for the longest time.  Not to mention that the price tag is quite hefty as well.

So, perhaps you may not be as excited as I am about the D700, but I can’t wait to get one. The thing is, just because I want one, doesn’t mean I’ll be able to get one. But we can all dream can’t we?

Laura is a Vancouver wedding and portrait photographer. Visit laurahana.com.